WHY USE A COLOR CHART? HOW TO CREATE ONE FOR EASY USE IN YOUR WORK? (Patreon)

Using paint involves constant blending to achieve the right shade. With alcohol-based markers, this blending process is minimized. That's why our favorite tools come in a wide range of shades and tones, which we have to select from the store for our workflow. Plus, we need to choose the right shade each time we create our art. It's all part of the process.

If you only have a few markers, it's easy to decide which one to use. But when your collection grows or you have markers from different brands, getting the perfect shade becomes quite challenging. Also, keep in mind that marker colors don't always match the shades on their caps perfectly. That’s why it's important to swatch your colors.

Swatching your markers is like giving them a test run. It helps you get to know their colors and how they work on different papers before you start your actual artwork.

It also helps you keep track of what supplies you already have and what you still need. This makes shopping for new colors a lot easier.

Swatching also has other benefits:

It lets you see the true color of each marker, so you can pick the right ones for your art.

You can test how markers blend together, which helps you make better transitions between colors.

You can see how each marker behaves when you press harder or layer colors, which helps you control your artwork better.

Creating a swatch chart helps you quickly find the colors you need while you're working.

Swatching helps you plan your color palette for future projects.

It helps you understand each marker's properties, like how opaque they are or how quickly they dry.

Swatching can also inspire new ideas and artistic discoveries as you experiment with different colors and techniques.

How to create a color chart:

Using templates and preprinted charts can make this task easier. However, I prefer to create my own charts that suit my needs. Here are a few tips on how I do that:

Test all the markers on a scrap piece of paper and arrange them by color. Any white paper will work; just group similar colors together. Don't rely solely on the color of the cap and the names given by the marker company as they might name colors differently. For example, a marker labeled as "Lime Green" might actually be a yellow ochre, while some blues might be called "Baby Blue" or "Denim Blue."

Divide a sheet of paper that you usually use for drawing into the desired number of sections. I prefer to use a sheet of good quality, thick double-sided paper suitable for markers, such as Canson the Wall. This paper allows me to apply tones more evenly and smoothly, and I'm confident that this swatch will last much longer.

Create swatches of all the markers, arranging them from the lightest to the darkest in each spectrum. Don't forget to label the names and shade numbers right away. Gradually, you'll learn all the color names and quickly find the shade you need.

Create your own simple symbols for different marker brands. This will be really helpful if you have markers from different series with different casings. It also makes it quicker to find the color you need.

Now, I want to talk about something important: how to find the right marker shade for your artwork. When I use markers, I always have my color chart nearby. It's like my palette. I compare my sketch to the chart to see which tones look good together.

Over time, you'll notice certain combinations that work well together, forming the basis for most of your work. The shades from these combinations will become your go-to colors, the ones you'll need to buy more often. 

Remember to take your color swatch with you when you go to the store. This will help you avoid buying colors that you already have or ones that are very similar.

Color charts that are used frequently, especially those exposed to light from lamps or windows, should be refreshed at least once a year. The fastest-fading colors are in the pink-purple group. To check if the tone has changed, you can leave a spot on the paper for comparison. After 2-3 months, apply the same color next to it. If there are differences, it's a sign that it's time to refresh the paint.

📄 About paper:

Choosing paper is a personal decision for everyone. But it's important to remember that your color swatch should be on the same paper that you are actually drawing on. Otherwise, the shades may not match, and you risk painting with a different tone.